Hubert de Givenchy Net Worth

Hubert de Givenchy had a net worth of $200 million at the time of his death in 2018. The French designer is celebrated for founding the iconic fashion house Givenchy and for creating timeless, elegant designs that became synonymous with high society and Hollywood glamour.

Early Life

Hubert de Givenchy was born on February 20, 1927, in Beauvais, France, into a noble French family. His father, Lucien Taffin de Givenchy, Marquis of Givenchy, passed away when Hubert was just three, leaving him to be raised by his mother and maternal grandmother. He had an older brother, Jean-Claude, and a younger sister, Beatrice, who died shortly after birth. At 17, Givenchy moved to Paris to study at École des Beaux-Arts, laying the foundation for his illustrious career in fashion.

Career Beginnings

Givenchy began designing professionally in 1945, working for prominent designers such as Jacques Fath, Robert Piguet, and Lucien Lelong, before joining Elsa Schiaparelli from 1947 to 1951. These early experiences helped him refine his aesthetic, blending elegance with innovative design techniques.

Founding Givenchy

In 1952, Hubert de Givenchy launched his eponymous fashion house in Paris. His debut collection featured the Bettina Blouse, named after model Bettina Graziani. By 1954, he introduced his first ready-to-wear collection, and in 1957, he expanded into perfumes and cosmetics under Parfums Givenchy.

He quickly became known for iconic designs, including the balloon coat and the baby doll dress, noted for their geometric tailoring. Givenchy gained international fame in the 1960s for dressing Audrey Hepburn, most famously creating the little black dress for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and designing her personal wardrobe and perfume line. His clientele also included Jacqueline Kennedy, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Maria Callas, Marlene Dietrich, and Grace Kelly, cementing his status as a designer to the stars.

Expansion

In 1969, Givenchy launched a men’s line and expanded into accessories, shoes, ties, jewelry, and even tableware. Although haute couture faced challenges in the 1970s due to casual fashion trends, Givenchy regained popularity in the 1980s with glamorous shoulder-padded dresses, tailored suits, and elegant ball gowns.

At the end of the decade, the fashion house was acquired by LVMH, which later also purchased his perfume and cosmetics brand. Givenchy retired in 1995, passing leadership of his fashion house to a series of British designers, including John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and Julien Macdonald.

Personal Life

Hubert de Givenchy lived at the Château du Jonchet, a 16th-century Renaissance château in northern France. During retirement, he devoted himself to collecting bronze and marble sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries. Openly gay, he shared a long-term relationship with fellow designer Philippe Venet.

Death

Hubert de Givenchy passed away on March 10, 2018, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at the age of 91. He was laid to rest in Passy Cemetery in Paris’s 16th arrondissement.

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